WO2018164538A1

WO2018164538A1 - Scanner

Info

Publication number: WO2018164538A1
Application number: PCT/KR2018/002842
Authority: WO
Inventors: 전진환; 임용현; 강승협; 이창윤
Original assignee: 주식회사 제노레이
Priority date: 2017-03-10
Filing date: 2018-03-09
Publication date: 2018-09-13
Also published as: KR102394308B1; KR20180104246A

Abstract

A scanner according to an embodiment comprises: a detector for receiving light reflected from an object and generating a signal; an optical system, a state of which is changed between a plurality of states including at least a first state and a second state by an electrical signal; and a control unit for controlling the detector and the optical system, wherein the control unit controls the optical system and the detector to generate shape information of the object when the optical system is in the first state, and the control unit controls the optical system and the detector to generate color information of the object when the optical system is in the second state.

Description

scanner

The present invention relates to a scanner.

In order to produce a dental prosthesis, it is necessary to acquire the tooth surface information of the patient. Conventionally, in order to obtain the tooth surface information of the patient, it is obtained by administering a substance in the oral cavity of the patient and curing it.

In addition, the dental prosthesis was produced by the prosthesis by hand processing the prosthesis through the impression model. Recently, a prosthesis is designed using computer-aided design (CAD), and a prosthesis is manufactured through computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and high accuracy and high productivity are pursued compared to conventional manual work.

In order to meet the development of the CAD and CAM system, a method of acquiring tooth surface information of a patient is being digitized. Recently, a method of acquiring a tooth surface of a patient includes a method of obtaining an impression model through a 3D scanner and a method of using an oral scanner.

The method of acquiring the impression model through the 3D scanner is a method of injecting a substance into the oral cavity of the patient, curing the same, and obtaining the impression model through the 3D scanner. This method still has to inject a substance into the patient's oral cavity, thus giving the patient a sense of rejection.

To improve this, an oral scanner has been developed. The oral cavity scanner moves the scanner by inserting the scanner in the oral cavity of the patient, acquires an image, and reconstructs the dental surface information of the patient.

A plurality of optical systems are required to implement the oral cavity scanner, and there are a confocal method, a triangulation technique, an active wavefront sampling method, and the like, depending on the implementation method.

The confocal method does not need to apply a separate material to the teeth for averaging the reflectance of the teeth, the patient's rejection when scanning the teeth compared to other methods. The confocal method is a method in which only a light corresponding to a specific focal plane of the light incident to the detector is sensed by the detector to move the optical system to change the focal plane and acquire an image to obtain surface data of a tooth. The confocal scanner is developed by Align, 3shape and the like. However, the confocal scanner has a problem in that vibration and noise occur because the optical system must be physically moved.

In order to improve this, a chromatic confocal method has been proposed. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a conventional chromatic confocal method.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional chromatic confocal oral scanner 1 includes a white light source 2, a beam splitter 3, a chromatic aberration generating lens 5, a detector 6, and a pinhole 7. can do.

The oral cavity scanner 1 irradiates light onto the object 9, receives the reflected light from the detector 6, calculates it, and obtains surface information of the object 9.

The white light source 2 irradiates the white light with the beam splitter 3, and the white light passes through the beam splitter 3 and proceeds to the chromatic aberration generating lens 5. The light transmitted through the chromatic aberration generating lens 5 proceeds to the object in a form having different focuses according to wavelengths. That is, the light having the first wavelength λ1 among the light transmitted through the chromatic aberration generating lens 5 is focused at a position adjacent to the chromatic aberration generating lens 5, and the light having the third wavelength λ3 is Focus is generated at a position spaced apart from the chromatic aberration generating lens 5, and light having a second wavelength λ 2 is generated between the first wavelength λ 1 and a third wavelength λ 3.

Of the light transmitted through the chromatic aberration generating lens 5, only light corresponding to the surface of the object 9 is reflected on the surface of the object 9 and reflected on the beam splitter 3, and the pinhole 7 causes the light to be reflected. The detector 6 is irradiated. For example, in the drawing, since the second wavelength λ 2 of the light transmitted through the chromatic aberration generating lens 5 corresponds to the surface of the object 9, the light having the second wavelength λ 2 is beam splitter 3. ) Is irradiated to the detector through the pinhole 7, and the detector 6 calculates a wavelength of the irradiated light to determine a distance between the chromatic aberration generating lens 5 and the object 9. Measure Surface information of the object 9 may be obtained through a distance between the chromatic aberration generating lens 5 and the object 9.

Conventional chromatic confocal method can omit the physical movement of the optical system compared to the confocal method, there is an advantage that can reduce the noise and vibration. However, since depth information is measured through wavelengths, there is a problem in that color surface information of an object cannot be obtained.

The present invention provides a scanner capable of acquiring surface information and color information without noise and vibration.

Scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention, the detector for receiving the light reflected from the object to generate a signal; An optical system whose state is changed between a plurality of states including at least a first state and a second state by an electrical signal; And a control unit for controlling the detector and the optical system, wherein the control unit controls the optical system and the detector to generate shape information of the object when the optical system is in the first state, and the optical system is in the second state. The optical system and the detector are controlled to generate the color information of the object when in the.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a scanner includes a light source configured to output first light including at least a first wavelength and a second wavelength; And an optical system whose state is changed by an electrical signal, wherein the optical system induces chromatic aberration of the first light in a first state to output a second light having a first depth of focus and a third light having a second depth of focus, and The optical system induces chromatic aberration of the first light in a second state and outputs a fourth light having a third focus depth and a fifth light having a fourth focus depth.

An embodiment of the present invention is a scanner for scanning a three-dimensional shape of the object, the light source; An optical system capable of changing a state according to an electrical signal and changing an optical characteristic according to the state change; And an optical sensor in which unit color pixels including at least R pixels, G pixels, and B pixels are arranged in the form of a two-dimensional array having an N × M shape, and when the scanner operates in a first mode, When only some of the N x M unit color pixels included in the two-dimensional array of sensors detect an electrical signal according to the light reflected from the target object, and the scanner operates in the second mode, An electrical signal according to the light reflected from the object is detected in all of the N x M unit color pixels included in the dimensional array, and when operated in the first mode, the electrical signal is detected. The two-dimensional coordinate value on the pixel array and the color value detected by the first unit color pixel are used to detect a three-dimensional shape of the target object, and in the second mode. In operation, the two-dimensional coordinate value on the pixel array of the second unit color pixel from which the electrical signal is detected and the color value detected by the second unit color pixel are used to generate a two-dimensional image for the object. Used.

The scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention may obtain surface information and color information without noise and vibration by changing a characteristic of light applied to the optical system by applying a voltage to the optical system according to a mode.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a conventional chromatic confocal method.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a system including a scanner and an electronic device interoperating with the scanner, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

3 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a scanner according to a first embodiment.

4 is a diagram illustrating a light source according to a first embodiment.

5 is a view showing another form of the light source according to the first embodiment.

6 is a view showing still another embodiment of the light source according to the first embodiment.

7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an optical system according to a first embodiment.

8A to 8C are views illustrating light that is changed and output in the optical system according to the first embodiment.

9 is a diagram illustrating another structure of the optical system according to the first embodiment.

10 is a diagram illustrating a voltage applied to the optical system of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a voltage applied to the optical system of FIG. 9.

12 is a diagram illustrating a color information acquisition operation of the scanner according to the first embodiment.

13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an operation of acquiring surface information of the scanner according to the first embodiment.

14 is a view illustrating a wide-angle preview acquisition operation of the scanner according to the first embodiment.

15 is a view showing a method of driving a scanner according to the first embodiment.

16 is a view showing another driving method of the scanner according to the first embodiment.

17 is a diagram illustrating a scanner according to a second embodiment.

18 is a view showing the structure of a scanner according to a third embodiment.

19 is a diagram illustrating an operation of acquiring surface information of a scanner according to a third embodiment.

20 is a diagram illustrating an operation of acquiring color information of a scanner according to a third embodiment.

21 is a diagram showing the structure of a scanner according to a fourth embodiment.

22 is a perspective view illustrating a lens array according to a fourth embodiment.

23 is a perspective view illustrating a pinhole array according to a fourth embodiment.

24A and 24B are diagrams illustrating paths of light in the lens array and the pinhole array according to the fourth embodiment.

25 is a diagram illustrating a surface information acquisition operation of the scanner according to the fourth embodiment.

26 is a diagram illustrating an operation of acquiring color information of a scanner according to a fourth embodiment.

27 is a view illustrating a wide-angle preview information acquisition operation of the scanner according to the fourth embodiment.

28 is a view illustrating a surface information acquisition operation of the scanner according to the fifth embodiment.

29 is a diagram illustrating a color information acquisition operation of the scanner according to the fifth embodiment.

30 is a view illustrating a wide-angle preview information acquisition operation of the scanner according to the fifth embodiment.

31 is a view illustrating a surface information acquisition operation of the scanner according to the sixth embodiment.

32 is a view illustrating a dental caries information acquisition operation of the scanner according to the sixth embodiment.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described in detail a specific embodiment of the present invention. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented, and those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention may deteriorate other inventions or the present invention by adding, modifying, or deleting other elements within the scope of the same idea. Other embodiments that fall within the scope of the inventive concept may be readily proposed, but they will also be included within the scope of the inventive concept.

In addition, the components with the same functions within the scope of the same idea shown in the drawings of each embodiment will be described using the same reference numerals.

According to an embodiment, a scanner may include a detector configured to receive light reflected from an object and generate a signal; An optical system whose state is changed between a plurality of states including at least a first state and a second state by an electrical signal; And a control unit for controlling the detector and the optical system, wherein the control unit controls the optical system and the detector to generate shape information of the object when the optical system is in the first state, and the optical system is in the second state. The optical system and the detector are controlled to generate the color information of the object when in the.

The controller may control the optical system and the detector to generate preview information of the object when the optical system is in the second state.

The plurality of states may further include a third state, and the controller may control the optical system and the detector to generate wide-angle preview information when the optical system is in the third state.

The surface shape of the optical system may be kept constant regardless of whether the electrical signal is applied.

The optical system may be a liquid crystal lens.

When the optical system is in the first state, the controller may apply an electrical signal to have the same optical characteristics as the convex lens.

The controller may apply an electrical signal to operate like a Fresnel lens having the same optical characteristics as the convex lens when the optical system is in the first state.

The light source may further include a light source for irradiating light to the object through the optical system, and the light source may output light in which light of a plurality of wavelength regions is mixed.

The light source may output white light.

The optical system may convert a path of light from the light source according to a plurality of states.

When the optical system is in the first state, the optical system may convert and output light from the light source to have different focal lengths for each wavelength region.

The optical system may output the light from the light source without changing the characteristic when in the second state.

The optical system may diffuse and output light from the light source when in the third state.

The detector may receive light having a focal point on the surface of the object when the optical system is in the first state.

The amount of light received by the detector when the optical system is in the first state may be smaller than the amount of light received by the detector when the optical system is in the second state.

The light receiving region of the detector when the optical system is in the first state may be smaller than the light receiving region of the detector when the optical system is in the second state.

The optical system may be controlled such that the first state and the second state are alternately changed.

The optical system may be controlled such that the first state, the second state, and the third state are alternately changed.

According to an embodiment, a scanner may include a light source configured to output first light including at least a first wavelength and a second wavelength; And an optical system whose state is changed by an electrical signal, wherein the optical system induces chromatic aberration of the first light in a first state to output a second light having a first depth of focus and a third light having a second depth of focus, and The optical system induces chromatic aberration of the first light in a second state and outputs a fourth light having a third focus depth and a fifth light having a fourth focus depth.

The third focal depth and the fourth focal depth may be the same.

The fourth light and the fifth light may have a form of light emitted.

The second light may be caused by the first wavelength, and the third light may be caused by the second wavelength.

The light source may include a red light source, a blue light source, and a green light source, and the light source may output white light.

Scanner according to an embodiment, the scanner for scanning the three-dimensional shape of the object, the light source; An optical system capable of changing a state according to an electrical signal and changing an optical characteristic according to the state change; And an optical sensor in which unit color pixels including at least R pixels, G pixels, and B pixels are arranged in the form of a two-dimensional array having an N × M shape, and when the scanner operates in a first mode, When only some of the N x M unit color pixels included in the two-dimensional array of sensors detect an electrical signal according to the light reflected from the target object, and the scanner operates in the second mode, An electrical signal according to the light reflected from the object is detected in all of the N x M unit color pixels included in the dimensional array, and when operated in the first mode, the electrical signal is detected. The two-dimensional coordinate value on the pixel array and the color value detected by the first unit color pixel are used to detect a three-dimensional shape of the target object, and in the second mode. In operation, the two-dimensional coordinate value on the pixel array of the second unit color pixel from which the electrical signal is detected and the color value detected by the second unit color pixel are used to generate a two-dimensional image for the object. Used.

According to an embodiment, a scanner may include: a light source configured to output first light including at least a first wavelength and a second wavelength; A lens for receiving the first light and causing a chromatic aberration of the first light to output the second light. The second light includes at least third and fourth light having different focal depths, and the third light Is caused by the first wavelength and the fourth light is caused by the second wavelength; And an optical system whose state is changed between a plurality of states including at least a first state and a second state by an electrical signal, wherein the optical system is configured to compensate for chromatic aberration of the second light when in the first state. Generates light and transmits it to the object, wherein the fifth light includes at least sixth and seventh lights, and a difference in focal depth of the sixth and seventh lights is a focal point of the third and fourth lights Less than the difference in depth

The depth of focus of the sixth and seventh lights may be the same.

When the optical system is in the second state, the optical system may transmit the second light to the object.

The lens may be a physical lens.

The lens may be a Fresnel lens.

The optical system may be a liquid crystal lens.

The optical system may have the same optical characteristics as the concave lens when in the first state.

The optical system can output without changing the optical characteristics of the light from the light source when in the second state.

A detector for detecting light reflected from the object; And a controller for controlling the optical system and the detector.

The controller may control the optical system to a first state and generate color information of the object through light received by the detector.

The controller may control the optical system to a second state and generate shape information of the object through light received by the detector.

The controller may generate preview information through light received by the detector.

According to an embodiment, a scanner may include a light source configured to output first light including at least a first wavelength and a second wavelength; A lens for changing the first wavelength of the first light to the second light having the first focus and the second wavelength of the first light to the third light having the second focus; An optical system whose state is changed between a plurality of states including at least a first state and a second state by an electrical signal; A detector for receiving light reflected from the object; And a controller for controlling the optical system and the detector, wherein the controller generates color information of the object when the optical system is in the first state, and generates surface information of the object when the optical system is in the second state. .

When the optical system is in the first state, the optical system may compensate for chromatic aberration of the second light and the third light.

When the optical system is in the first state, the optical system may have optical characteristics corresponding to that of the concave lens.

When the optical system is in the second state, the optical system may receive the second light and the third light and output the second light and the third light.

When the optical system is in the second state, the optical system may have optical characteristics of glass.

The optical system may be a liquid crystal lens.

According to an embodiment, a scanner may include a detector configured to receive light reflected from an object and generate a signal; An optical system whose state is changed between a plurality of states including at least a first state and a second state by an electrical signal; And a control unit for controlling the detector and the optical system, wherein light having a first characteristic is incident on the optical system when the optical system is in a first state, and light having a second characteristic when the optical system is in a second state. The light incident on the optical system and having the first characteristic is a form in which point light is diffused.

The light having the second characteristic may be in the form of surface light.

A light source for irradiating light with the optical system; And a pinhole array positioned between the light source and the optical system to change a characteristic of light.

The pinhole array may output point light when the optical system is in the first state.

The pinhole array may output surface light when the optical system is in the second state.

The pinhole array may be a liquid crystal panel.

When the optical system is in the first state, the pinhole array may generate a light blocking region to define a pinhole.

When the optical system is in the second state, the pinhole array may have optical characteristics corresponding to that of the pinhole is removed and the glass.

The lens array may further include a lens array positioned between the light source and the pinhole array to change a path of light from the light source to output light having a plurality of focal points toward the pinhole array.

The light source may further include a first auxiliary light source that emits light to the optical system, and the first auxiliary light source may output surface light to the optical system when the optical system is in a second state.

The light source and the first auxiliary light source may alternately flash.

When the optical system is in the first state, the light source is turned on, the first auxiliary light source is turned off, when the optical system is in the second state, the light source is turned off, and the first auxiliary light source is turned on. have.

And a second auxiliary light source that emits light to the object, wherein the second auxiliary light source outputs light to the object when the optical system is in a second state.

The light source and the second auxiliary light source may alternately flash.

When the optical system is in the first state, the light source is turned on, the second auxiliary light source is turned off, when the optical system is in the second state, the light source is turned off, and the second auxiliary light source is turned on. have.

The second auxiliary light source may be located at the front end of the scanner.

The second auxiliary light source may output light in a blue wavelength region.

The second auxiliary light source may output quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) light.

The controller may detect dental caries when the optical system is in the second state.

Scanner according to the embodiment, the light source for outputting light; A pinhole array for changing a characteristic of light output from the light source; An optical system for changing a focus of light from the pinhole array; And a controller for controlling the pinhole array and the optical system, wherein the controller controls the point light to be output from the pinhole array in the first mode, and controls the optical system to have a characteristic corresponding to the convex lens.

The controller may control the surface light to be output from the pinhole array in the second mode, and control the optical system to have a characteristic corresponding to glass.

The controller may control the surface light to be output from the pinhole array in the third mode, and control the optical system to have characteristics corresponding to the concave lens.

Scanner according to the embodiment, the light source for outputting light; A pinhole array configured to output light output from the light source in the form of point light; An auxiliary light source for outputting surface light; An optical system for changing a focus of light from the pinhole array or the auxiliary light source; And a control unit controlling the light source and the auxiliary light source, wherein the control unit turns on the light source in a first mode and controls the optical system to have a characteristic corresponding to the convex lens.

The controller may turn on the auxiliary light source in a second mode and control the optical system to have a characteristic corresponding to glass.

The controller may turn on the auxiliary light source in the third mode and control the optical system to have a characteristic corresponding to the concave lens.

Scanner according to the embodiment, the light source for outputting light; A pinhole array configured to output light output from the light source in the form of point light; An optical system for changing a focus of light from the pinhole array and outputting the object to an object; An auxiliary light source for emitting light to the object; And a control unit controlling the light source and the auxiliary light source, wherein the control unit turns on the light source in a first mode and controls the optical system to have a characteristic corresponding to the convex lens.

The auxiliary light source may output quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) light.

Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

1. System Configuration

2, a system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a scanner 1000 and an electronic device 2000.

The scanner 1000 may include an optical system 1100, a light source 1200, a detector 1300, and a first control unit 1400. The optical system 1100, the light source 1200, the detector 1300, and the first controller 1400 may be located inside the body portion 1010. The body portion 1010 may provide an appearance of the scanner 1000.

The scanner 1000 may irradiate light onto an object and obtain surface information and color information of the object through light reflected through the object.

The light source 1200 may radiate light to the optical system 1100 and transmit white light. The light source 1200 may be a fluorescent lamp or an LED.

The optical system 1100 may directly or convert the light transmitted from the light source 1200 to the object. The optical system 1100 may adjust the focal depth, chromatic aberration, and / or path of the light transmitted from the light source 1200 and transmit the adjusted depth to the object.

The optical system 1100 may transfer the light reflected from the object to the detector 1300. At least a portion of the light irradiated to the object may be reflected by the object and transmitted to the detector 1300 through the optical system 1100.

The detector 1300 may convert the light transmitted through the optical system 1100 into an electrical signal and transmit the converted light to the first controller 1400. The detector 1300 may be a color sensor capable of detecting color. The detector 1300 may be a CMOS or a CCD. The electrical signal generated by the detector 1300 may be transmitted to the first controller 1400.

The first control unit 1400 may generate surface information and / or color information by using the electric signal received from the detector 1300. The surface information may be a stereoscopic image of the surface of the object. The color information may be color information corresponding to the surface of the stereoscopic image. The first controller 1400 may generate a stereoscopic image of an object having color by combining the stereoscopic image and color information.

The first controller 1400 may control the optical system 1100, the light source 1200, and the detector 1300.

The first controller 1400 may control the light emission timing of the light source 1200. The first controller 1400 may control the optical system 1100 to generate surface information and / or color information.

The first controller 1400 may control the optical system 1100 to adjust the focal length and / or chromatic aberration of the light output toward the object or to change the path of the light.

The first controller 1400 may control the readout timing of the detector 1300.

The scanner 1000 may be connected to the electronic device 2000 by wireless or wired. In this case, the scanner 1000 and the electronic device 2000 may include a communication module (not shown).

The electronic device 2000 may include a second control unit 2100 and a display unit 2200. The second controller 2100 may control surface information and / or color information, or stereoscopic image and / or color information transmitted from the scanner 1000 to be displayed on the display unit 2200. The second controller 2100 may control to display a stereoscopic image of an object having a color transmitted from the scanner 1000 on the display unit 2200. The second controller 2100 may receive surface information and color information from the scanner 1000, generate a stereoscopic image of an object having a color by combining the surface information, and display the color information on the display unit 2200.

The second control unit 2100 may be omitted. When the second control unit 2100 is omitted, the first control unit 1400 may control the display unit 2200 to display a stereoscopic image of an object having a color by combining surface information and color information.

The first control unit 1400 may be omitted. When the first control unit 1400 is omitted, the second control unit 2100 may control the optical system 1100, the light source 1200, and the detector 1300 of the scanner 1000.

The second controller 2100 may control the light emission timing of the light source 1200. The second control unit 2100 may directly receive an electrical signal from the detector 1300 and generate surface information and / or color information using the received electrical signal.

The second control unit 2100 may output color information corresponding to a stereoscopic image and / or a surface of the stereoscopic image through the display unit 2200 using the electric signal received from the detector. The second control unit 2100 may output a stereoscopic image of an object having a color through the display unit 2200 by combining the electrical signals received from the detector.

2. First embodiment

(1) scanner structure

Referring to FIG. 3, the scanner 1000 according to the first embodiment may include an optical system 1100, a light source 1200, a first optical path converter 1201, and a detector 1300.

The optical system 1100 may include an optical system 1500, a second optical path converter 1501, a beam splitter 1600, and a mirror 1700.

The light source 1200, the first optical path converter 1201, the beam splitter 1600, the optical system 1500, the second optical path converter 1501, and the mirror 1700 may be aligned with the horizontal axis x. . The detector 1300 may be aligned with a first vertical axis y1, and the object y2 may be aligned with the second vertical axis y2. The horizontal axis x may be an axis perpendicular to the first vertical axis y1 and the second vertical axis y2. The first vertical axis y1 and the second vertical axis y2 may be parallel to each other.

The light source 1200 may be disposed at one end of the horizontal axis x. The center of the light source 1200 may pass through the horizontal axis x. The light source 1200 may be positioned in the vertical direction of the horizontal axis x. The center of the light emission area of the light source 1200 may correspond to the horizontal axis x or coincide with the horizontal axis x. The light source 1200 may radiate white light toward the optical system 1100.

The first light path converting unit 1201 may be disposed between the light source 1200 and the beam splitter 1600. The first optical path converter 1201 may change a path of incident light. The first optical path converting unit 1201 may include at least one lens. The first optical path converting unit 1201 may change the path of the light irradiated from the light source 1200 and transmit the changed light path to the beam splitter 1600.

The beam splitter 1600 may be disposed on a traveling direction of light output from the light source 1200. The beam splitter 1600 may be disposed such that a central axis is positioned on the horizontal axis x. The beam splitter 1600 may transmit light incident from the light source 1600 and reflect light incident in the direction of the light source 1600. The beam splitter 1600 may be formed of a translucent mirror.

The optical system 1500 may be disposed in an area adjacent to the beam splitter 1600. That is, the optical system 1500 may be disposed between the beam splitter 1600 and the mirror 1700.

The optical system 1500 may convert light from the light source 1200 and output the converted light to the mirror 1700. The optical system 1500 may adjust a focal length, chromatic aberration, and / or path of light from the light source 1200.

The optical system 1500 may be changed in state by an electrical signal. The optical system 1500 may change light transmitted by the electrical signal or adjust a focal length, chromatic aberration, and / or path of light from the light source 1200.

The optical system 1500 may be a liquid crystal lens or a liquid lens. The optical system 1500 will be described in detail later.

The second light path conversion unit 1501 may be disposed between the optical system 1500 and the mirror 1700. The second optical path converter 1501 may change a path of incident light. The second optical path conversion unit 1501 may change the path of the light from the optical system 1500 and transmit the changed light path to the mirror 1700. The second optical path conversion unit 1501 may change the path of the light from the mirror 1700 and transmit it to the optical system 1500.

The mirror 1700 may reflect light from the optical system 1500 and transmit the reflected light to the object. The mirror 1700 may be inclined to have an angle with the horizontal axis x. The light incident surface of the mirror 1700 may be inclined at an angle of 45 degrees with the horizontal axis x. Since the horizontal axis x is the same as the center of the light traveling from the light source 1200, the mirror 1700 may be inclined from the horizontal axis x.

The mirror 1700 may be inclined from the second vertical axis y2. An angle between the mirror 1700 and the second vertical axis y2 may be 45 degrees.

Light from the optical system 1500 is reflected by the mirror 1700 and is incident on the object. A portion of the light reflected by the object is incident on the mirror 1700 along the second vertical axis y2. The mirror reflects the light reflected from the object and transmits the reflected light to the optical system 1500.

The optical system 1500 transmits the light incident from the mirror 1700 to the beam splitter 1600. The optical system 1500 may adjust a focal length, chromatic aberration, and / or path of light incident from the mirror 1700.

The beam splitter 1600 may reflect light transmitted from the optical system 1500 and transmit the reflected light to the detector 1300. Light reflected by the beam splitter 1600 may travel along the first vertical axis y1 and be incident to the detector. An angle between the beam splitter 1600 and the horizontal axis x may be 45 degrees. An angle between the beam splitter 1600 and the first vertical axis y1 may be 45 degrees.

A separate optical path converting unit may be located between the beam splitter 1600 and the detector 1300. When the optical path conversion unit between the beam splitter 1600 and the detector 1300 is located, the light from the beam splitter 1600 may be changed and irradiated to the detector 1300.

The detector 1300 may convert light incident from the beam splitter 1600 into an electrical signal. The detector 1300 may be a color sensor that detects color. The detector 1300 may be configured in a matrix form having a plurality of cells. That is, the detector 1300 may be configured in the form of an array having NxM cells. The detector may include R pixels, G pixels, and B pixels.

(2) light source

1) Basic form of light source

4 is a diagram illustrating a light source according to a first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the light source 1200 according to the first embodiment may include a base 1210, first to third

light sources

1220, 1230, and 1240, and a diffusion plate 1250.

The base 1210 may fix the first to third

light sources

1220, 1230, and 1240 and may supply power to the first to third

light sources

1220, 1230, and 1240.

The first to third

light sources

1220, 1230, and 1240 may be positioned and attached to the base 1210. The first to third

light sources

1220, 1230, and 1240 may emit light by receiving power from the base 1210. The first to third

light sources

1220, 1230, and 1240 may output light of different wavelength regions.

The first light source 1220 may output light of a specific wavelength region. The first light source 1220 may output light including a blue wavelength region. The first light source 1220 may output light having a maximum output in the blue wavelength region among the visible light wavelengths.

The first light source 1220 may include a first light source substrate 1221 and a first light emitting diode 1223. The first light emitting diode 1223 may be mounted on the first light source substrate 1221. The first light emitting diode 1223 may receive power from the first light source substrate 1221 and emit light. The first light emitting diode 1223 may be a blue LED.

The second light source 1230 may output light of a specific wavelength region. The second light source 1230 may output light including the green wavelength region. The second light source 1230 may output light having the maximum output in the green wavelength region among the visible light wavelengths.

The second light source 1230 may include a second light source substrate 1231 and a second light emitting diode 1233. The second light emitting diode 1233 may be mounted on the second light source substrate 1231. The second light emitting diode 1233 may receive power from the second light source substrate 1231 and emit light. The second light emitting diode 1233 may be a green LED.

The third light source 1240 may output light of a specific wavelength region. The third light source 1240 may output light including a red wavelength. The third light source 1240 may output light having the maximum output in the red wavelength region among the visible light wavelengths.

The third light source 1240 may include a third light source substrate 1241 and a third light emitting diode 1243. The third light emitting diode 1243 may be mounted on the third light source substrate 1241. The third light emitting diode 1243 may receive power from the third light source substrate 1241 and emit light. The third light emitting diode 1243 may be a red LED.

Light output from the first to third

light sources

1220, 1230, and 1240 may be transmitted to the diffusion plate 1250. The diffusion plate 1250 scatters and outputs the light transmitted from the first to third

light sources

1220, 1230, and 1240. Light incident from the first to third

light sources

1220, 1230, and 1240 is refracted and reflected a plurality of times in the diffusion plate 1250 and output to the outside. The blue light from the first light source 1220, the green light from the second light source 1230, and the red light from the third light source 1240 are properly mixed due to refraction and reflection in the diffusion plate 1250. It is output as white light. The diffusion plate 1250 receives light from the first to third

light sources

1220, 1230, and 1240, and outputs white light.

As a result, the light source 1200 outputs light having a wavelength in which the red, green, and blue wavelengths are mixed. The light source 1200 outputs white light. As the light source 1200 outputs white light, the scanner 1000 may be implemented in a chromatic confocal method through white light.

2) different mode of light source

Referring to FIG. 5, another type of light source 1200 according to the first embodiment may include a base 1210, a first light source 1220, and a diffusion conversion plate 1260.

Since the base 1210 and the first light source 1220 are the same as those of FIG. 4, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The diffusion conversion plate 1260 may be positioned on a path through which light from the first light source 1220 is transmitted. The diffusion conversion plate 1260 may convert the wavelength of light incident from the first light source 1220 and diffuse and output the light. The diffusion converter plate 1260 may expand and output the wavelength region of the light incident from the first light source 1220. That is, the light output from the diffusion conversion plate 1260 may have a wider wavelength range than the light incident on the diffusion conversion plate 1260. The diffusion converter plate 1260 may output white light.

The diffusion conversion plate 1260 may include a wavelength conversion material. The diffusion conversion plate 1260 may include at least one material of a quantum dot, an inorganic phosphor, an organic phosphor, or a dye. The diffusion converter plate 1260 may include a red phosphor and a green phosphor.

Light incident on the diffusion conversion plate 1260 may be refracted and reflected inside the diffusion conversion plate 1260 and output to the outside. The light incident on the diffusion converter plate 1260 may be refracted and reflected by the wavelength conversion material inside the diffusion converter plate 1260 to convert the wavelength of the light and output the light.

Compared to FIG. 4, in the case of the light source of FIG. 5, white light may be output using the first light source 1220, so that the light source may be configured with a simple structure.

3) another form of light source

Referring to FIG. 6, another type of light source 1200 according to the first embodiment may include a plurality of first light sources 1220 and a reflection converting member 1270.

The first light source 1220 is the same as the configuration of FIG. Here, the first light source 1220 may also be fixed by the base as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, but is not shown in the drawings.

The first light source 1220 may output light in a direction opposite to a direction in which the light output from the light source 1200 travels. That is, the output direction of the light of the first light source 1220 and the output direction of the light of the light source 1200 may be opposite directions.

The reflection converting member 1270 may have a shape having a curvature. The reflection converting member 1270 may have a hemispherical shape or a hemispherical shape having an empty inside.

The reflection conversion member 1270 may reflect incident light. The reflection conversion member 1270 may convert the wavelength of incident light. The reflection conversion member 1270 may convert and reflect the wavelength of incident light and output the reflected light. The reflection converting member 1270 may expand and output the wavelength region of the light incident from the first light source 1220. That is, the light reflected and output by the reflection conversion member 1270 may have a wider wavelength range than the light incident on the reflection conversion member 1270. The reflection conversion member 1270 may reflect the light from the first light source 1220 and as a result, may output light in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the light in the first light source 1220. The reflection converting member 1270 may output white light.

An emission area may be defined by the shape of the reflection conversion member 1270. The reflection conversion member 1270 is formed in a hemispherical shape, the light emission area may be defined by the hemispherical open area. Light reflected by the reflection converting member 1270 may be output through the light exiting area. The light emitting area may be circular.

The plurality of first light sources 1220 may be located in an area surrounding the light exit area. That is, the plurality of first light sources 1220 may be formed in a circular band shape surrounding the light exit area.

The reflection converting member 1270 may include a material having a high reflectance and a wavelength converting material. The reflection converting member 1270 may include at least one material of a quantum dot, an inorganic phosphor, an organic phosphor, or a dye. The reflection converting member 1270 may include a red phosphor and a green phosphor.

The reflection conversion member 1270 may be formed in a multilayer structure. The reflection conversion member 1270 may include a reflection layer and a wavelength conversion layer. The wavelength conversion layer may be formed at a position closer to the first light source 1220 than the reflective layer. When the reflection conversion member 1270 includes a reflection layer and a wavelength conversion layer, the light from the first light source 1220 is incident on the wavelength conversion layer of the reflection conversion member 1270, and then is reflected on the reflection layer and again has a wavelength. The light is transmitted through the conversion layer to the light exit area.

Compared to FIG. 5, the light source of FIG. 6 may output white light reflected by the reflection converting member 1270, thereby preventing the light from being concentrated in a specific region.

(3) optical system

1) optical system structure

Referring to FIG. 7, the optical system 1500 according to the first embodiment includes an upper electrode 1510, a lower electrode 1520, and a liquid crystal layer 1530.

The upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 may be formed to face each other, and a liquid crystal layer 1530 may be interposed between the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520.

The upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 may be formed of a transparent conductive material. The upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 may transmit light, and a voltage may be applied to the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520.

Each of the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 may be divided into regions. The divided regions of the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 may correspond to each other. Each of the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 may be applied with a different voltage for each divided region. An electric field may be formed by voltages applied to the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520.

The liquid crystal layer 1530 may include a plurality of liquid crystals 1540. The liquid crystal 1530 may change a molecular arrangement according to a voltage. The liquid crystal 1540 may change the molecular arrangement according to the direction of the electric field.

The molecular arrangement of the liquid crystal 1540 is changed in the electric field direction, so that light transmitted through the liquid crystal layer 1530 may have an optical characteristic changed according to the molecular arrangement. When a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 1530, an electric field is formed, and characteristics of light input according to the electric field direction are converted and output. The liquid crystal layer 1530 may be output by adjusting a focal length, chromatic aberration, and / or path of the input light according to the applied voltage.

In the drawing, although the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 are disposed with the liquid crystal layer 1530 interposed therebetween, an electrode is formed on only one side of the liquid crystal layer 1530 and is divided. The arrangement of the liquid crystal layer 1530 may be changed by applying different electric fields to the electrodes.

The arrangement of the liquid crystal layer 1530 is only changed according to the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer 1530, and the surface shape of the optical system 1500 is not changed. That is, the surface shape of the optical system 1500 may be kept constant regardless of whether voltage is applied. In other words, the surface shape of the configuration for adjusting the focal length of the light can be kept constant regardless of whether the voltage is applied.

2) light output from optical system

8A to 8C are views illustrating light that is changed and output in the optical system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating conversion of light in the first state, FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating conversion of light in the second state, and FIG. 8C is a diagram illustrating conversion of light in the third state.

Referring to FIG. 8A, the optical system 1500 according to the first embodiment operates in a first state. A voltage may be applied to the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 of the optical system 1500 such that the liquid crystal layer 1530 is in the same state as the first state. The same voltage may be applied to both the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 or a divided region thereof.

Alternatively, no voltage may be applied to the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520. That is, the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 may be in a floating state so that the liquid crystal 1540 may be in the same state as the initial state, and thus may be arranged in an initial alignment direction.

When the optical system 1500 operates in the first state, the liquid crystal layer 1530 may output light without changing the characteristic of incident light. That is, the optical system 1500 may operate like glass. However, the light intensity may be attenuated by the liquid crystal layer 1530.

For example, when the first light l1 is input from one side of the optical system 1500, the light transmitted through the optical system 1500 and output to the other side is the first light l1. On the contrary, even when the first light l1 is input from the other side of the optical system 1500, the light transmitted through the optical system 1500 and output to the other side is also the first light l1.

Referring to FIG. 8B, the optical system 1500 according to the first embodiment operates in a second state. Different levels of voltage may be applied to the divided regions of the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 of the optical system 1500 such that the liquid crystal layer 1530 may operate in a second state.

In this case, the arrangement of liquid crystals in the outer region of the liquid crystal layer 1530 is changed to have a relatively large amount of change relative to the initial alignment direction, and the liquid crystal in the central region of the liquid crystal layer 1530 is based on the initial alignment direction. The array is changed to have a relatively small amount of change.

That is, the liquid crystal is arranged so that the amount of change in the liquid crystal increases from the central region to the outer region of the liquid crystal layer 1530. The amount of change in the liquid crystal may be determined by the voltage difference applied to the divided regions of the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520. For example, when the voltage difference between the divided regions of the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 is large, the amount of change in the liquid crystal increases, and the voltage difference between the divided regions of the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 is small. In this case, the amount of change in the liquid crystal may be reduced. By this phenomenon, the liquid crystal may be arranged as shown by adjusting a voltage difference in the divided regions of the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520.

The amount of change in the liquid crystal due to the voltage difference may vary depending on the characteristics of the liquid crystal. That is, when the voltage difference applied to the divided regions of the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 is small, the amount of change in the liquid crystal increases, and the voltage difference of the divided regions of the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 is increased. If large, the amount of change in liquid crystal may be small.

In this case, the characteristics of the light incident on the liquid crystal layer 1530 may be output in a changed state. The liquid crystal layer 1530 may have an optical characteristic corresponding to the convex lens.

When a light bundle parallel to one side of the optical system 1500 is incident, a plurality of lights having different focal points, different chromatic aberrations, and / or different paths may be output to the other side of the optical system 1500. For example, when the first light l1 is incident on one side of the optical system 1500 in the form of a parallel light bundle, the optical system 1500 may include the second light l2, the third light l3, and the first light l3. The four light l4 may be output to the other side of the optical system 1500.

Since the first light l1 is white light formed by mixing a plurality of different wavelengths, a plurality of different wavelength components exist in the first light l1. When the first light l1 is incident on the optical system 1500 that acts as a convex lens in the second state, the refractive index is changed for each of a plurality of wavelengths while passing through the liquid crystal layer 1530 of the optical system 1500. The second light l2, the third light l3, and the fourth light l4 form a focal point in an area adjacent to the other surface of the optical system 1500 to have different focal points. That is, the refractive index of each of the plurality of wavelengths changes as the light passes through the liquid crystal layer 1530, so that the second light l2, the third light l3, and the fourth light l4 travel in different paths to focus differently. Focus on it.

In other words, the light output to the other surface of the optical system 1500 by the chromatic aberration of the liquid crystal layer 1530 may be separated according to the wavelength. Since the light having different colors according to the wavelength, the white light incident on the optical system 1500 may be separated into light having different colors and output.

The second light l2 output from the optical system 1500 may be refracted to have a first focal point f1, and the third light l3 may be refracted to have a second focal point f2. The fourth light l4 may be refracted to have a third focal point f3.

The second light l2 may be light having a shorter wavelength than the third light l3. The third light may be light having a shorter wavelength than that of the fourth light l4. The second light l2 may be light having a shorter wavelength than the fourth light l4. The shorter the wavelength of the plurality of light output from the optical system 1500, the focus is formed in the area adjacent to the optical system 1500, and the longer the wavelength is formed in the area spaced apart from the optical system 1500. The relationship between the wavelength and the focus of the light output from the optical system 1500 may vary depending on the voltage applied to the optical system 1500. That is, the longer the wavelength of the light output from the optical system 1500, the focus is formed in the region adjacent to the optical system 1500, and the shorter the wavelength of the light may be formed in the region spaced apart from the optical system 1500. .

The second light l2 may be blue light, the third light l3 may be green light, and the fourth light l4 may be red light. Although the light output through the optical system 1500 has three focal points in the drawing, the light output from the optical system 1500 may have less than three or three or more focal points.

Conversely, when light having a plurality of foci is incident on the other surface of the optical system 1500, the light output through the optical system 1500 to one surface of the optical system may be output in the form of parallel light bundles.

Referring to FIG. 8C, the optical system 1500 according to the first embodiment operates in a third state. The optical system 1500 may apply different levels of voltage to divided regions of the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 so that the liquid crystal layer 1530 may operate in a third state.

That is, the liquid crystal is arranged so that the amount of change in the liquid crystal increases from the central region to the outer region of the liquid crystal layer 1530. The change amount of the liquid crystal may be caused by the voltage applied to the divided regions of the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520.

When the optical system 1500 operates in the third state, a voltage applied to the divided regions of the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 is a voltage applied when the optical system 1500 operates in the second state. It may be a reverse voltage of. That is, when the optical system 1500 operates in the second state, when the voltage difference between the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 in a specific region is 5V, the optical system 1500 operates in the third state. The voltage difference between the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 in the region may be -5V.

In this case, the characteristics of the light incident on the liquid crystal layer 1530 may be output in a changed state. When the optical system 1500 operates in the third state, the liquid crystal layer 1530 may have an optical characteristic corresponding to the concave lens.

The light transmitted through the optical system 1500 may be output by changing the path of the light through the optical system 1500. When a light bundle parallel to one side of the optical system 1500 is incident, light may be transmitted through the optical system 1500. Light transmitted through the optical system 1500 may gradually progress to the outside of the boundary of light based on the optical axis.

For example, when the first light l1 is incident on one side of the optical system 1500 in the form of parallel light bundles, the optical system 1500 may output the fifth light l5. The fifth light l5 may be output at an angle toward the outside of the optical axis based on the first light l1.

A cross section obtained by cutting the first or fifth light l5 into a plane parallel to one surface of the optical system 1500 may be defined as a light receiving area. The light receiving area of the fifth light l5 may be larger as it moves away from the optical system 1500.

On the contrary, when the fifth light l5 is incident on the other surface of the optical system 1500, the path of the light may be changed by the optical system 1500 to be output in the form of the first light l1. That is, light having an angle may be incident on the other surface of the optical system 1500 and output as parallel light.

3) different structure of optical system

Referring to FIG. 9, the optical system 1500 according to the first exemplary embodiment may include a plurality of upper electrodes 1510, a plurality of lower electrodes 1520, and a liquid crystal layer 1530.

The plurality of upper electrodes 1510 may be formed on the upper substrate 1511, and the plurality of lower electrodes 1520 may be formed on the lower substrate 1521.

The liquid crystal layer 1530 may be interposed between the upper substrate 1511 and the lower substrate 1521.

The upper substrate 1511 may have a shape corresponding to the lower substrate 1521. The upper substrate 1511 and the lower substrate 1521 may have a circular or cylindrical shape.

The liquid crystal layer 1530 may be formed in a cylindrical shape. One surface of the liquid crystal layer 1530 may have an area corresponding to one surface of the upper substrate 1511 and the lower substrate 1521.

According to the shape of the upper substrate 1511, the lower substrate 1521, and the liquid crystal layer 1530, the optical system 1500 may have a cylindrical shape. The central axes of the upper substrate 1511, the lower substrate 1521, and the liquid crystal layer 1530 are the same and may be the same as the optical axis incident on the optical system 1500. When the optical system 1500 operates in the second state, focal points of light may be positioned on an extended line of the optical axis.

A plurality of upper electrodes 1510 may be formed on the upper substrate 1511. The plurality of upper electrodes 1510 may be formed in a circular band shape with the same center. The center of the plurality of upper electrodes 1510 may be the same as the central axis of the upper substrate 1511.

The upper electrode 1510 may include first to fifth upper electrodes 1510a to 1510e. The first to fifth upper electrodes 1510a to 1510e may be electrically separated from each other. The first upper electrode 1510a may be formed in a circular band shape closest to the center of the upper substrate 1511. The second upper electrode 1510b is formed outside the first upper electrode 1510a, and the third upper electrode 1510c is formed outside the second upper electrode 1510b and the fourth upper portion An electrode 1510d may be formed outside the third upper electrode 1510c, and the fifth upper electrode 1510e may be formed outside the fourth upper electrode 1510d. The fifth upper electrode 1510e may be formed at the outermost portion of the upper substrate 1511. Different voltages may be applied to the first to fifth upper electrodes 1510a to 1510e.

A plurality of lower electrodes 1520 may be formed on the lower substrate 1521. The plurality of lower electrodes 1520 may be formed in a circular band shape with the same center. The center of the plurality of lower electrodes 1520 may be the same as the central axis of the lower substrate 1521.

The lower electrode 1520 may include first to fifth lower electrodes 1520a to 1520e. The first to fifth lower electrodes 1520a to 1520e may be electrically separated from each other. The first to fifth lower electrodes 1520a to 1520e may be formed in a shape corresponding to a position corresponding to the first to fifth lower electrodes 1510a to 1510e.

An electric field may be generated by the voltage difference applied to the upper and lower electrodes. The arrangement of the liquid crystals of the liquid crystal layer 1530 may be changed by the electric field. Since the plurality of upper electrodes 1510 and the plurality of lower electrodes 1520 are formed in a circular band shape having the same center with respect to the optical axis, the arrangement of the liquid crystal may be changed around the optical axis. Therefore, the characteristics of light can be changed without distortion for each region.

In the drawing, the plurality of upper electrodes 1510 and the plurality of lower electrodes 1520 are respectively formed as an example, but the plurality of upper electrodes 1510 and the plurality of lower electrodes 1520 are necessary. By a greater number. As the number of the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 increases, detailed control of the liquid crystal layer 1530 may be possible.

4) Driving the optical system

10 is a diagram illustrating a voltage applied to the optical system of FIG. 9.

Different voltages may be applied to the plurality of upper electrodes 1510 and the lower electrodes 1520 of the optical system 1500 according to the first embodiment of FIG. 9.

A first applied voltage V1 may be applied to the upper electrode 1510, and a second applied voltage V2 may be applied to the lower electrode 1520. An electric field formed in the liquid crystal layer 1530 between the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 is proportional to the magnitude of the voltage and inversely proportional to the distance between the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520.

Since the distance between the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 is the same, an electric field formed in the liquid crystal layer 1530 may be determined by a difference between voltages applied to the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520. have.

For example, when the optical system 1500 is in the second state, a voltage having a smaller difference may be applied to the upper electrode 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 from the center area to the outer area. For example, the voltage difference applied to the first upper electrode 1510a and the first lower electrode 1520a is the largest. The voltage difference applied to the fifth upper electrode 1510e and the fifth lower electrode 1520e may be the smallest.

In the drawings, the five upper electrodes 1510 and the lower electrodes 1520 are formed as an example, but the number of the upper electrodes 1510 and the lower electrodes 1520 may be five or more, and the upper electrodes ( The width of the 1510 and the lower electrode 1520 may be smaller. As the number of the upper electrodes 1510 and the lower electrodes 1520 increases and the width decreases, as shown in FIG. 10, the voltage difference between the upper electrodes 1510 and the lower electrodes 1520 may have a curved shape. That is, the electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer 1530 may have a curved shape having a maximum value in the central region. As the electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer 1530 is formed as shown in FIG. 10, the liquid crystal layer 1530 serves as a convex lens, and the optical system 1500 may operate in a second state.

An electric field of the type shown in FIG. 11 may be applied to the liquid crystal layer 1530. As the electric fields of FIG. 11 are applied to the plurality of upper electrodes 1510 and the plurality of lower electrodes 1520 of FIG. 9, the liquid crystal layer 1530 may operate like a Fresnel lens. Since the optical characteristics of the Fresnel lens are the same as the optical characteristics of the convex lens, the optical system 1500 may operate in the second state by applying an electric field of the type shown in FIG. 11.

(4) Acquire color information of scanner

12, the scanner 1000 according to the first embodiment includes an optical system 1100, a light source 1200, and a detector 1300, and the optical system 1100 includes an optical system 1500 and a beam splitter. 1600 and mirror 1700.

The optical system 1500 operates in a first state. Light mixed with a plurality of wavelengths is output from the light source 1200. The light source 1200 may output white light. Light output from the light source 1200 may be transmitted to the beam splitter 1600 along the horizontal axis x, and may be transmitted to the beam splitter 1600 through the first optical path converting unit 1201. The beam splitter 1600 transmits the light incident from the light source 1200 and transmits the light to the optical system 1500 along the horizontal axis x.

When the optical system 1500 is in the first state, the optical system 1500 may output light without changing the characteristics of the input light. That is, the optical system 1500 may operate like glass. In this case, the light incident to the optical system 1500 may be transmitted to the mirror 1700 through the second optical path conversion unit 1501 along the horizontal axis x without changing the state. Light incident on the mirror 1700 is reflected in the direction of the second vertical axis y2 and is incident on the object. The object may be a tooth.

The light reflected by the object is incident on the mirror 1700 again, and the mirror 1700 reflects the light incident on the mirror 1700 along the horizontal axis x in the direction of the optical system 1500.

Light reflected from the mirror 1700 may be incident to the optical system 1500. Light reflected from the mirror 1700 may be incident to the optical system 1500 through the second optical path converter 1501. Light incident on the optical system 1500 is incident on the beam splitter 1600 in a state where the characteristic of the light is not changed. Light incident on the beam splitter 1600 may be reflected toward the detector 1300.

The light reflected in the direction of the detector 1300 travels in the direction of the first vertical axis y1 and is incident on the detector 1300. The detector 1300 may obtain the color information of the object by converting the incident light into an electrical signal. The first controller 1400 may acquire the surface color of the object through the light incident on the detector 1300.

Alternatively, the first controller 1400 may obtain a preview image of the object through the light incident on the detector 1300. Since the detector 1300 detects the light reflected from the upper part of the object, the detector 1300 may acquire an image of the object viewed from the upper part of the object. The first control unit 1400 may provide a preview image to a user by obtaining and outputting an image viewed from an upper portion of the object. The color information and the preview image may be two-dimensional images of the object.

(5) Acquire surface information of scanner

13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an operation of acquiring surface information of the scanner according to the first embodiment. FIG. 13A illustrates a diagram of light transmitted to the object, and FIG. 13B illustrates a path through which light reflected through the object is transmitted to the detector.

Referring to FIG. 13, in the scanner 1000 according to the first embodiment, the optical system 1500 operates in a second state. Here, the same operation as in FIG. 12 will be omitted. In this case, the optical system 1500 may operate like a convex lens. The light output from the optical system 1500 may be output to have a different focus for each wavelength.

For example, when the first light l1 is incident on the optical system 1500, the optical system 1500 may output the second light l2 and the third light l3. The second light l2 and the third light l3 may be light having different focal lengths or may have different wavelengths. The second light l2 may have a shorter focal length than the third light l3. The focus of the second light l2 may be closer to the optical system 1500 than the focus of the third light l3.

The second light l2 and the third light l3 output from the optical system 1500 travel in the direction of the mirror 1700 along the horizontal axis x and move the second light path limiting unit 1501. It may be delivered to the mirror 1700 through. The second light l2 and the third light l3 reaching the mirror 1700 are reflected and transmitted to the object along the second vertical axis y2. The focus of the second light l2 and the third light l3 may be located on the second vertical axis y2.

The focus of the second light l2 and the third light l3 may be located at different positions on the second vertical axis y2. The focal point of the second light l2 may be located closer to the mirror 1700 than the focal point of the third light l3.

Among the light incident on the object, light whose focus is located on the surface of the object may be reflected. Although the light incident on the object does not have a focal point on the surface of the object, the amount of incident light is further reflected into the scanner 1100 and thus may be treated as noise. In other words, only light having a focal point on the surface of the object may be incident on the detector 1300 and used as information.

For example, the focus of the second light l2 of the second light l2 and the third light l3 incident on the object is located on the surface of the object, and the focus of the third light l3 is It is located inside the object. Accordingly, the third light l3 is scattered and reflected by the object, and only the second light l2 is incident on the mirror 1700.

The mirror 1700 reflects the second light l2 and transmits the light toward the optical system 1500. The second light l2 reflected from the mirror 1700 may be incident to the optical system 1500 through the second optical path converter 1501. The second light l2 transmitted to the optical system 1500 along the horizontal axis x is transmitted to the beam splitter 1600. The light reflected by the beam splitter 1600 is transmitted toward the detector 130 along the first vertical axis y1. The detector 1300 converts the second light l2 into an electrical signal.

Depth information of the object may be measured through the wavelength of light incident on the detector 1300. That is, different focal lengths are determined for each wavelength by the optical system 1500, and when light having a specific wavelength is measured by the detector 1300, a focal length corresponding to the specific wavelength corresponds to depth information of the object. do. In the drawing, since the focal length of the second light l2 is predetermined, when the second light l2 is detected by the detector 1300, the surface of the object is positioned at the focal point of the second light l2. You can see that it exists in. Accordingly, the first controller 1400 may calculate depth information of the object through the wavelength of the light present in the detector 1300. Since the detector 1300 may be a color sensor, the wavelength of light incident on the detector 1300 may be easily calculated by the color sensor to calculate depth information of the object. In other words, the detector 1300 may calculate depth information of the object using a color value of incident light.

When the surface information of the object is acquired, the light incident on the detector 1300 is a focused light. When the color information of the object is acquired, the light incident on the detector 1300 is surface light, and thus the object is light. The amount of light received by the detector 1300 when acquiring surface information may be smaller than the amount of light received by the detector 1300 when acquiring color information of the object. Alternatively, when acquiring surface information of the object, the light receiving area of the detector 1300 may be smaller than the light receiving area of the detector 1300 when acquiring color information of the object.

Since the detector 1300 is configured in the form of a matrix and the light source 1200 is also configured in the form of a plurality of mattresses, the depth information can be calculated by irradiating light onto a two-dimensional plane of the object and measuring the reflected light The first control unit 1400 can obtain 3D surface information through this.

That is, the detector 1300 is composed of a pixel array including a plurality of unit pixels arranged in rows and columns, and coordinates are applied to each pixel to measure light reflected in two dimensions, and measured in each pixel. 3D surface information may be obtained by the depth information.

The scanner according to the first embodiment may acquire color information as shown in FIG. 12, and obtain surface information as shown in FIG. 13. The scanner according to the first embodiment may obtain surface information and color information with a single scanner by controlling the voltage applied to the optical system 1500 without physically moving a separate lens. Therefore, vibration and noise of the scanner can be prevented. In other words, a scanner of a chromatic confocal method capable of acquiring surface information and color information may be implemented.

In addition, the scanner according to the first embodiment may generate a stereoscopic image of an object having color by combining surface information and color information, thereby enabling more realistic modeling. In particular, in the case of an oral scanner, since the object is a tooth, not only the 3D surface information of the tooth but also the color information can be obtained, so that the tooth can be designed in consideration of the surrounding tooth color when manufacturing the implant.

(6) Acquire wide-angle preview of scanner

Referring to FIG. 14, in the scanner 1000 according to the first embodiment, the optical system 1500 operates in a third state. Here, detailed description of the same operations as those of FIG. 12 will be omitted. In this case, the optical system 1500 may operate like a concave lens. The light output from the optical system 1500 may be diverted by changing the path of the light. The light output from the optical system 1500 may gradually progress to the outside of the boundary of the light based on the optical axis. The light receiving area of the light output from the optical system 1500 may increase as the distance from the optical system 1500 increases.

The light output from the optical system 1500 travels in the direction of the mirror 1700 through the second optical path conversion unit 1501 along the horizontal axis x. The light reaching the mirror 1700 is reflected and transmitted to the object along the second vertical axis y2. The light incident on the object may have a wider light receiving area than the light incident on the object of FIG. 12. That is, since light incident on the object has a wide light receiving area, a wider area of the object is illuminated.

The light reflected by the object is transmitted to and reflected by the mirror 1700, and is transmitted to the optical system 1500 through the second optical path converter 1501 along the horizontal axis x. On the contrary, the light incident on the optical system 1500 is changed to reduce the light receiving area and is transmitted to the beam splitter 1600.

The light reaching the beam splitter 1600 is reflected and transmitted along the first vertical axis y1 toward the detector 1300, and the detector 1300 converts the incident light into an electrical signal to convert the light into an electrical signal. Wide-angle preview information can be obtained. In the light incident from the mirror 1700 into the optical system 1500, a wider area of light is incident on the detector 1300 to generate a wider preview image than the preview image of FIG. 12. can do. The first control unit 1400 may provide a wide-angle preview image to the user, thereby improving user convenience.

(7) Driving method of scanner

1) Time division drive

Referring to FIG. 15, the scanner 1000 according to the first embodiment may be driven in a time division manner. The scanner 1000 may be repeatedly driven in a first section and a second section.

The first section may be a longer section or a shorter section than the second section. Alternatively, the first section may have the same length as the second section. However, it may be more appropriate that the first section for acquiring the surface information has a large amount of calculation and has a relatively longer time than the second section.

In the first section, the scanner 1000 may obtain surface information. The first controller 1400 may operate the optical system 1500 in a second state in the first section to acquire surface information of an object through light applied to the detector 1300.

In the second section, the scanner 1000 may acquire color information. The first controller 1400 operates the optical system 1500 in a first state in the second section to acquire color information of an object through light applied to the detector 1300.

In addition, although not shown, the scanner 1000 may additionally obtain preview information in the second section. In the second section, the first controller 1400 may operate the optical system 1500 in a first state to obtain preview information through light applied to the detector 1300.

The first controller 1400 drives the optical system 1500 to a first state or a second state. In order for the optical system 1500 to operate in the first state, a voltage set to be applied to the plurality of upper electrodes 1510 and the plurality of lower electrodes 1520 may be defined as a first voltage set. In order to operate the optical system 1500 in the second state, a voltage set to be applied to the plurality of upper electrodes 1510 and the plurality of lower electrodes 1520 may be defined as a second voltage set.

The first voltage set and the second voltage set may be stored in the form of a lookup table. The first controller 1400 may operate the optical system 1500 in a first state or a second state by applying the first voltage set or the second voltage set stored in the lookup table form to the optical system 1500. . That is, the first controller 1400 can drive the optical system 1500 to the second state by applying a second voltage set to the optical system 1500 in the first section. The first controller 1400 may apply the first voltage set to the optical system 1500 in the second section to drive the optical system 1500 to a first state.

When the optical system 1500 is in the first state, the color information and the preview information are not measured separately from each other, but when the light applied to the detector 1300 is changed, the color information and the preview information are combined. Can be obtained.

By implementing the scanner 1000 in a time division manner, surface information and color information can be obtained in a short time, and a combination thereof can be obtained to obtain a stereoscopic image of an object having color.

2) Other driving method

FIG. 16 is the same as in FIG. 15 except that the third section is added. Therefore, in describing FIG. 16, a detailed description of the structure common to that of FIG. 15 will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 16, the scanner 1000 according to the first embodiment may be driven in a time division manner. The scanner 1000 may be driven by repeating a first section, a second section, and a third section.

The third section may be a section shorter than the first section and the second section. The third section may be processed even if the third section has a relatively short section because the computation amount is smaller than that of the first section and the second section.

The scanner 1000 may be sequentially driven in order of the first section, the second section, and the third section. In the third section, the scanner 1000 may obtain wide-angle preview information. The first controller 1400 may operate the optical system 1500 in a third state in the third section to obtain wide-angle preview information on the object through light applied to the detector 1300. .

The first controller 1400 can drive the optical system 1500 to a first state, a second state, or a third state. In order to operate the optical system 1500 in a third state, a voltage set to be applied to the plurality of upper electrodes 1510 and the plurality of lower electrodes 1520 may be defined as a third voltage set.

The third voltage set may be stored in the form of a lookup table. The first controller 1400 applies the first voltage set, the second voltage set, or the third voltage set stored in the form of the lookup table to the optical system 1500 to apply the optical system 1500 to the first state and the second state. Alternatively, the scanner 1000 may be operated in a third state. By implementing the scanner 1000 in a time division manner, surface information, color information, and wide-angle preview information may be acquired in a short time.

3. Second Embodiment-Auto Focus

17 is a diagram illustrating a scanner according to a second embodiment.

The scanner according to the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the characteristics of the optical system are changed in the second state. Therefore, in the description of the scanner according to the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are assigned to components common to the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 17, in the scanner 1000 according to the second embodiment, the optical system 1500 operates in a second state. The optical system 1500 may serve as a convex lens whose focus is changed. As a result, the focus of the plurality of lights output from the optical system 1500 may be changed. The first controller 1400 may control the focus of a plurality of lights output from the optical system 1500 to be changed. That is, the focus of the second light l2 and the third light l3 may be changed. The focus of the second light l2 and the third light l3 may move in a direction adjacent to the optical system 1500, or may move in a direction spaced apart from the optical system 1500.

The focus of the second light l2 and the third light l3 may be changed by the intensity of the electric field formed in the liquid crystal layer 1530. As the deviation between the electric field in the central region and the electric field in the outer region of the liquid crystal layer 1530 increases, the refractive index may be greater than that of the convex lens in the second state of the first embodiment. As the deviation of the electric field increases, the focal point of the second light l2 and the third light l3 moves in the direction of the optical system 1500.

In addition, the smaller the deviation between the electric field of the central region and the electric field of the outer region of the liquid crystal layer 1530, the smaller the refractive index of the convex lens of the second state of the first embodiment. As the deviation of the electric field becomes smaller, the focal point of the second light l2 and the third light l3 moves in a direction away from the optical system 1500.

By changing the voltages applied to the plurality of upper electrodes 1510 and the plurality of lower electrodes 1520 of the optical system 1500, the focus of the plurality of lights output from the optical system 1500 may be changed. The focus of the plurality of light outputs is the greater the difference between the voltage difference between the upper electrode and the lower electrode in the center region of the optical system 1500 and the voltage difference between the upper electrode and the lower electrode in the outer region of the optical system 1500. Direction and the smaller the deviation, the greater the distance from the optical system 1500.

Since the first controller 1400 changes the focus of the second light l2 and the focus of the third light l3, the focal point of the second light l2 and the focus of the third light l3 are the same. It may be moved on the second vertical axis y2. That is, in the state where the second light l2 has the first focus depth and the third light l3 has the second focus depth, the first controller 1400 controls the optical system 1500 to control the first light. The focal depth of the second light l2 may be moved to the third focal depth, and the focal depth of the third light l3 may be moved to the fourth focal depth.

The focus of the second light l2 and the focus of the third light l3 may be moved in the direction of the object or in the direction of the mirror 1700. The first controller 1400 may control the focal point of the second light l2 and the focal point of the third light l3 to be moved by changing a voltage applied to the optical system 1500. Autofocus may be implemented by shifting the focal point of the second light l2 and the focal point of the third light l3.

Among the second light l2 and the third light l3, the light having the focus on the surface of the object is reflected to the detector 1300 through the mirror 1700, the optical system 1500, and the beam splitter 1600. Incident).

When there is no light in focus on the surface of the object among the second light l2 and the third light l3, the first control unit 1400 controls the second light l2 and the third light ( The focal point of the second light l2 and the third light l3 may be shifted by changing the voltage applied to the optical system 1500 such that the light at the focal point is present on the surface of the object.

That is, when the surface of the object is not detected by the light output from the optical system 1500, the surface of the object may be detected by shifting the focus of the light output from the optical system 1500.

When the signal generated by the detector 1300 is less than a predetermined size, the first controller 1400 changes the voltage applied to the optical system 1500 to shift the focus of the light output from the optical system 1500. The signal generated by the detector 1300 is measured, and when the signal is greater than or equal to a predetermined size, the voltage applied to the optical system 1500 is fixed in that state.

Since the scanner 1000 is implemented with auto focus, the scanner 1000 may obtain more accurate surface information.

In addition, when the scanner 1000 is an oral scanner, the surface information is obtained by moving the oral scanner in close contact with a tooth in the related art, and the scanner 1000 is implemented as an auto focus, so that the freedom of the user may be guaranteed. . That is, even if the scanner 1000 does not move in a state where a certain distance is maintained from the tooth, there is an advantage of obtaining surface information of the tooth.

In addition, even when the wavelength of the light source 1200 is selectively used, the surface information may be obtained. The wavelength and the focal length of the light output by the optical system 1500 may be determined by the wavelength of the light source 1200, even if the distance deviation between the maximum focal length and the minimum focal length of the light output from the optical system 1500 is small. Surface information can be obtained. That is, even if the object is not located between the maximum focal length and the minimum focal length of light, the optical system 1500 may acquire the surface information of the object while moving the focal length by having the auto focus function. This means that the scanner 1000 can accurately obtain the surface information of the object even when only light of a specific wavelength region of the white light source is relatively easy to measure.

In addition, even when the size of the object is large, the focal length is moved by using the autofocus function of the optical system 1500, and the scanner 1000 has an effect of acquiring surface information of the object.

4. Embodiment 3-Chromatic Aberration Generation Physical Lens

(1) scanner structure

The scanner according to the third embodiment further includes a lens as compared to the scanner of the first embodiment, and is identical to the first embodiment except that the role of the optical system 1500 is different. Therefore, the same reference numerals are assigned to the components common to the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 18, in the scanner 1000 according to the third embodiment, the optical system 1100 may further include a lens 1800. The lens 1800 may be a physical lens, a convex lens, or a Fresnel lens. Light passing through the lens 1800 may be collected on the horizontal axis x, and the focus thereof may be positioned on the horizontal axis x.

The lens 1800 may be a liquid crystal lens. In this case, the lens 1800 may be a liquid crystal lens in a state where the second state of the optical system 1500 is maintained.

The optical system 1500 may convert light from the lens 1800 and output the converted light to the mirror 1700. The optical system 1500 may adjust a focal length, chromatic aberration, and / or path of light from the lens 1800. The optical system 1500 may adjust a focal length, chromatic aberration and / or path of light from the light source 1200 by the electric signal.

The optical system 1500 may be a liquid crystal lens or a liquid lens.

The optical system 1500 may operate in a state different from the first state and the first state. The optical system 1500 may operate in a first state and a third state.

(2) Acquire surface information of scanner

Referring to FIG. 19, in the scanner 1000 according to the third embodiment, the optical system 1500 operates in a first state. Light from the light source 1200 may pass through the beam splitter 1600 and be incident on the lens 1800, and may be transmitted to the beam splitter 1600 through the first optical path converter 1201. .

Since the lens 1800 is a convex lens or a Fresnel lens having optical characteristics corresponding to the convex lens, the light output from the lens 1800 may be output as light having different focus for each wavelength.

For example, when the first light l1 is incident on the lens 1800, the lens 1800 may output the second light l2 and the third light l3. The second light l2 and the third light l3 may be light having different focal lengths or different wavelengths. The second light l2 may have a shorter focal length than the third light l3. The focus of the second light l2 may be closer to the lens 1800 than the focus of the third light l3.

The second light l2 and the third light l3 output from the lens 1800 travel in the direction of the optical system 1500 along the horizontal axis x. When the optical system 1500 operates in the first state, the optical system 1500 transmits the incident light without changing the incident light, so that the second light l2 and the third light l3 transmit the optical system 1500. The light is transmitted to the mirror 1700, reflected by the mirror 1700, and transmitted to the object.

Among the light incident on the object, the light having the focus on the surface of the object is reflected and incident again to the detector 1300 through the mirror 1700, the optical system 1500, the lens 1800, and the beam splitter 1600. The detector 1300 may acquire surface information of the object by using incident light.

(3) Acquiring color information of object

Referring to FIG. 20, in the scanner 1000 according to the third embodiment, the optical system 1500 operates in a third state. Here, detailed description of the same operation as that of FIG. 19 is omitted. In this case, the optical system 1500 operates as a concave lens. The optical system 1500 may change a path of light incident from the lens 1800. The optical system 1500 may remove a focus of light incident from the lens 1800. That is, the optical system 1500 may change light incident from the lens 181800 into parallel light.

The optical system 1500 may change or remove chromatic aberration of light incident from the lens 1800. The optical system 1500 may compensate for chromatic aberration of light incident from the lens 1800.

The optical system 1500 may output 2-1 light and 3-1 light that compensate for chromatic aberration of the second light l2 and the third light l3 transmitted from the lens 1800. The difference between the depths of focus of the 2-1st light and the 3-1th light may be smaller than the difference between the depth of focus of the second light l2 and the third light l3. The depth of focus of the 2-1 light and the 3-1 light may be the same.

The optical system 1500 may output the fourth light l4 by compensating for chromatic aberration between the second light l2 and the third light l3 transmitted from the lens 1800. The optical system 1500 may output the fourth light l4 that is parallel light by changing the paths of the second light l2 and the third light l3 transmitted from the lens 1800.

The fourth light l4 may be incident to the mirror 1700 along the horizontal axis x, and the mirror 1700 may reflect the fourth light l4 and transmit the reflected light to the object. The light reflected by the object is transmitted to the detector 1300 through the mirror 1700, the optical system 1500, the lens 1800, and the beam splitter 1600. Although the light reflected by the object is transmitted to the detector 1300, even if light is incident from the mirror 1700 toward the optical system 1500 and chromatic aberration occurs again, the chromatic aberration passes again through the lens 1800. As it is compensated, light without chromatic aberration may be incident on the detector 1300.

The light output by the object is white light, and the scanner 1000 may obtain color information of the object by detecting the light reflected by the object with the detector. The first controller 1400 may acquire the surface color of the object through the light incident on the detector 1300.

Alternatively, the first controller 1400 may obtain a preview image of the object through the light incident on the detector 1300. Since the detector 1300 detects the light reflected from the upper part of the object, the detector 1300 may acquire an image of the object viewed from the upper part of the object.

The scanner according to the third embodiment may acquire surface information as shown in FIG. 19 and acquire color information as shown in FIG. 20. The scanner according to the third embodiment may obtain surface information and color information with one scanner by controlling the voltage applied to the optical system 1500.

In addition, in a scanner including a physical lens that causes chromatic aberration and a physical lens that changes focus, the conventional optical lens replaces a physical lens that changes focus while maintaining a physical lens that causes chromatic aberration and replaces the surface information with a minimum design change. And it is effective to implement a scanner to obtain color information.

5. Fourth embodiment-add pinhole array

(1) scanner structure

The scanner according to the fourth embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the scanner further includes an optical path control unit as compared with the scanner of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the description of the fourth embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the components common to the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 21, in the scanner 1000 according to the fourth embodiment, the optical system 1100 may further include an optical path controller 1900. The optical path controller 1900 may change the characteristics of the light incident from the light source 1200 and output the changed characteristics. The optical path controller 1900 may selectively output light in the form of surface light or point light. The optical path controller 1900 may output a plurality of point lights. The optical path controller 1900 may output NxM point lights in a matrix form.

The optical path controller 1900 may include a parallel lens 1910, a lens array 1920, and a pinhole array 1930.

The parallel lens 1910 is located in an area adjacent to the light source 1200, the pinhole array 1930 is located in an area adjacent to the beam splitter 1600, and the lens array 1920 is located in the parallel lens 1910. And the pinhole array 1930. The parallel lens 1910, the lens array 1920, and the pinhole array 1930 may be sequentially aligned on the horizontal axis x.

The parallel lens 1910 may be a convex lens. The parallel lens 1910 may convert the light output from the light source 1200 into surface light and transmit the light to the lens array 1920. The lens array 1920 may condense the light received from the parallel lens 1910 to have a plurality of focal points and transmit the light to the pinhole array 1930.

The lens array 1920 may not be an essential configuration. The optical path controller 1900 may include the parallel lens 1910 and the pinhole array without the lens array 1920.

The pinhole array 1930 may control and output characteristics of light received from the lens array 1920. The pinhole array 1930 may selectively output the light received from the lens array 1920 as either surface light or point light.

(2) lens array and pinhole array

22 is a perspective view illustrating a lens array according to a fourth embodiment, FIG. 23 is a perspective view illustrating a pinhole array according to a fourth embodiment, and FIGS. 24A and 24B illustrate a lens array and a pinhole array according to a fourth embodiment. It is a figure which shows the path | route of the light.

Referring to FIG. 22, the lens array 1920 according to the fourth embodiment may include a lens substrate 1921 and a plurality of lenses 1923.

The plurality of lenses 1923 may be formed on the lens substrate 1921. The plurality of lenses 1923 may be convex lenses. The plurality of lenses 1923 may be disposed on the lens substrate 1921 at a predetermined position, and may be disposed to have a predetermined distance from each other.

The plurality of lenses 1923 may be disposed on the lens substrate 1921 in NxM in a matrix form. For example, nine lenses 1923 may be disposed at 3 × 3 on the lens substrate 1921.

Referring to FIG. 23, the pinhole array 1930 according to the fourth embodiment may include a pinhole substrate 1931. The pinhole substrate 1931 may include a plurality of pinholes 1933 and blocking regions 1935.

The pinhole array 1930 may be a switchable pinhole array. The pinhole array 1930 may be a liquid crystal panel. A liquid crystal layer may be injected into the pinhole substrate 1931.

A voltage may be supplied to the pinhole array 1930 to generate a blocking region 1935 in the pinhole array 1930. A voltage is supplied to the pinhole array 1930 so that the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer is displaced so that a blocking region 1935 that does not transmit light may be formed in the pinhole array 1930.

The plurality of pinholes 1933 may be defined by the blocking region 1935 of the pinhole array 1930. The plurality of pinholes 1933 may be a region excluding the blocking region 1935 of the pinhole substrate 1931 and may transmit light without blocking light. Light incident to the pinhole array 1930 through the plurality of pinholes 1933 may be output as a plurality of point lights.

The liquid crystal layer may be injected only into the blocking region 1935 in the pinhole substrate 1931. In this case, an electric field may be applied to the blocking region 1935 to generate or remove the blocking region 1935. That is, an electric field may be applied to the blocking region 1935 to block light from being transmitted to the blocking region 1935 or to transmit light. In this case, the liquid crystal layer is not injected into the plurality of pinholes 1933, and the plurality of pinholes 1933 are in a state of transmitting light.

Liquid crystal may be injected into the entire area of the pinhole substrate 1931. That is, the liquid crystal may be injected into the region where the plurality of pinholes 1933 are formed and the blocking region 1935 of the pinhole substrate 1931. The blocking region 1935 may be generated by applying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer. That is, light may be blocked in the blocking region 1935 and light may be transmitted to the plurality of pinholes 1933 by applying different electric fields to the liquid crystal layer for each region.

The plurality of pinholes 1933 may be arranged in the form of matrix NxM. For example, nine pinholes 1933 may be arranged on the pinhole array 1930 in 3 × 3. Each pinhole 1933 may be located at a position corresponding to the plurality of lenses 1923 of the lens array 1920. The pinhole 1933 may be positioned on the focal point of the lens 1923.

The pinhole array 1930 may be operated in two states, such as a first state or a second state. A state in which the blocking region is generated in the pinhole array 1930 may be defined as a first state, and a state in which the blocking region is not generated in the pinhole array 1930 may be defined as a second state.

Light incident on the pinhole array 1930 in the first state may be output through the pinhole 1933, and light incident on the pinhole array 1930 in the second state is not only the pinhole 1933. It can also be output through the blocking area. That is, in the first state, the pinhole array 1930 may serve as a general pinhole array, and in the second state, the pinhole array 1930 may serve as a glass.

24A is a diagram illustrating a path of light in the first state, and FIG. 24B is a diagram illustrating a path of light in the second state.

Referring to FIG. 24A, the lens array 1920 and the pinhole array 1930 may be spaced apart from each other. The pinhole array 1930 may operate in a first state.

Parallel light output by the parallel lens 1910 may be incident on the lens array 1920, may be refracted by each lens 1923, and transmitted to the pinhole array 1930.

Light transmitted from the lens array 1920 may be transmitted through the pinhole array 1930 and output as point light. Each pinhole 1933 may transmit light having a focus on the pinhole 1933 and output in the form of point light. Since the pinholes 1933 are arranged in a matrix shape, the pinholes 1933 may be a plurality of point lights arranged in a light intensity matrix shape output from the pinhole array 1930. The number of point lights may be equal to the number of pinholes 1933 of the pinhole arrays 1930.

Referring to FIG. 24B, the pinhole array 1930 may operate in a second state. Light refracted by the lens array 1920 passes through the pinhole array 1930 and is transmitted to the beam splitter 1600. Light output from the plurality of lens arrays 1920 may pass through the pinhole array 1930 and may be mixed with each other in the process of reaching the beam splitter 1600. The light is mixed with each other and output in the form of surface light. That is, when the pinhole array 1930 is in the second state, the optical path controller 1900 may output surface light. In other words, the pinhole array 1930 in the second state may output more light than the pinhole array 1930 in the first state.

(3) Acquisition of surface information of scanner

Referring to FIG. 25, in the scanner 1000 according to the fourth embodiment, the optical system 1500 may operate in a second state, and the optical path controller 1900 may operate in a first state.

The light path controller 1900 may convert the light received from the light source 1200 in the first state into a point light form and output the point light. The optical path controller 1900 may output a plurality of point lights in the form of a matrix of optical bundles.

The light output from the optical path controller 1900 is transmitted to the optical system 1500 through the beam splitter 1600 and transmitted to the beam splitter 1600 through the first optical path converter 1201. Can be.

Since the optical system 1500 operates in the second state, the optical system 1500 may have the same optical characteristics as that of the convex lens.

The light output from the optical system 1500 may be output to have different focal points for each wavelength. Light output from the optical system 1500 may be reflected through the mirror 1700 and transmitted to the object.

Among the light incident on the object, light whose focus is located on the surface of the object may be reflected. Light whose focus is located on the surface of the object may be incident to the detector 1300 through the mirror 1700, the optical system 1500, and the beam splitter 1600. The detector 1300 may acquire surface information of the object by using incident light. Light reflected from the object may be irradiated only to a partial region of the detector 1300.

Since the light path controller 1900 outputs light in the form of point light, it is possible to measure more clearly without noise and obtain more accurate surface information.

An optical member may be additionally located between the detector 1300 and the beam splitter 1600. An optical filter, a pinhole array, or the like may be disposed between the detector 1300 and the beam splitter 1600. The noise of the light irradiated to the detector 1300 by the additional optical member may be reduced, and more accurate surface information may be obtained.

(4) Acquire color information of scanner

Referring to FIG. 26, in the scanner 1000 according to the fourth embodiment, the optical system 1500 may operate in a first state, and the optical path controller 1900 may operate in a second state. Here, detailed description of the same operation as that of FIG. 25 is omitted. The light path controller 1900 may output the light received from the light source 1200 in the second state in the form of surface light.

Since the optical system 1500 operates in the first state, the optical system 1500 may output the optical system 1500 without changing the characteristics of the light and may have the same optical characteristics as that of the glass.

Light incident to the optical system 1500 through the beam splitter 1600 travels to the mirror 1700 along the horizontal axis x without changing state, and is reflected in the direction of the second vertical axis y2 to the object. Incident.

Light incident on the object is reflected by the object, and is incident to the detector 1300 through the mirror 1700, the optical system 1500, and the beam splitter 1600. When the scanner 1000 acquires color information, light may be incident on the entire area of the detector 1300. When the scanner 1000 acquires the color information, the area where the light of the detector 1300 is incident may be larger than when the scanner 1000 acquires the surface information. That is, when the scanner 1000 acquires surface information, light is irradiated only to a partial region of the detector 1300, and when the scanner 1000 acquires color information, the entire area of the detector 1300. Light may be irradiated.

(5) Wide-angle preview acquisition of scanner

Referring to FIG. 27, in the scanner 1000 according to the fourth embodiment, the optical system 1500 may operate in a third state, and the optical path controller 1900 may operate in a second state. Here, detailed description of the same operation as that of FIG. 25 is omitted. The light path controller 1900 may output the light received from the light source 1200 in the second state in the form of surface light.

Light output from the optical path controller 1900 may be transmitted to the optical system 1500 by passing through the beam splitter 1600.

Since the optical system 1500 operates in a third state, the optical system 1500 may operate like a concave lens. The light output from the optical system 1500 may be diverted by changing the path of the light.

The light output from the optical system 1500 travels in the direction of the mirror 1700 through the second optical path conversion unit 1501 along the horizontal axis x. The light reaching the mirror 1700 is reflected and transmitted to the object along the second vertical axis y2.

The light reflected by the object is transmitted to and reflected by the mirror 1700, and is transmitted to the optical system 1500 through the second optical path converter 1501 along the horizontal axis x.

The light reaching the beam splitter 1600 is reflected and transmitted along the first vertical axis y1 toward the detector 1300, and the detector 1300 converts the incident light into an electrical signal to convert the light into an electrical signal. Wide-angle preview information can be obtained. In the light incident from the mirror 1700 to the optical system 1500, a wider area of light is incident on the detector 1300 to generate a wider preview image than the preview image of FIG. 26. Can be. The first control unit 1400 may provide a wide-angle preview image to the user, thereby improving user convenience.

The scanner according to the fourth exemplary embodiment has an effect of obtaining more accurate surface information of the object by controlling the light path controller 190 to control the light incident to the optical system 1500 in comparison with the first exemplary embodiment.

6. Fifth Embodiment-First Auxiliary Light Source

(1) scanner structure

28 to 30 are diagrams illustrating a scanner according to a fifth embodiment.

The scanner according to the fifth embodiment is the same as the fourth embodiment except that the state of the pinhole array is not changed compared to the scanner according to the fourth embodiment, and a separate light source is added. Therefore, in describing the fifth embodiment, the same reference numerals are assigned to the components common to the fourth embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

28 to 30, the scanner 1000 according to the fifth embodiment may further include a first auxiliary light source 1280. The light path limiting unit 1905 may include a parallel lens 1910, a lens array 1920, and a fixed pinhole array 1940. The light path limiting unit 1905 may output the light output from the light source 1200 in the form of point light.

The parallel lens 1910 may be a convex lens. The parallel lens 1910 may convert the light output from the light source 1200 into surface light and transmit the light to the lens array 1920. The lens array 1920 may collect the light received from the parallel lens 1910 to have a plurality of focal points and transmit the light to the fixed pinhole array 1940.

The fixed pinhole array 1940 may output the light received from the lens array 1920 in the form of point light. The function of the fixed pinhole array 1940 is the same as that of the pinhole array 1930 in the first state of the fourth embodiment. The fixed pinhole array 1940 is not changed in state as in the fourth embodiment, but has a fixed characteristic in the form of a first state.

The first auxiliary light source 1280 may output white light toward the beam splitter 1600. An auxiliary parallel lens 1950 may be positioned between the first auxiliary light source 1280 and the beam splitter 1600. The auxiliary parallel lens 1950 may be a convex lens. The auxiliary parallel lens 1950 may convert the light transmitted from the first auxiliary light source 1280 into surface light and transmit the light to the beam splitter 1600.

The light source 1200 and the first auxiliary light source 1280 may be complementarily flickered. The light source 1200 and the first auxiliary light source 1280 may blink in a time division manner. For example, when the light source 1200 is turned on, the first auxiliary light source 1280 may be turned off, and when the light source 1200 is turned off, the first auxiliary light source 1280 may be turned on. have.

(2) Acquire surface information of scanner

Referring to FIG. 28, in the surface information acquisition operation of the scanner 1000 according to the fifth embodiment, the light source 1200 may be turned on and the first auxiliary light source 1280 may be turned off. In this case, the optical system 1500 may operate in a second state.

The light path limiting unit 1905 may convert the light received from the light source 1200 into a point light form and output the point light.

Light output from the light path limiting unit 1905 passes through the beam splitter 1600 and is transmitted to the optical system 1500, and passes through the first light path converting unit 1201 to the beam splitter 1600. Can be delivered.

Among the light incident on the object, light whose focus is located on the surface of the object may be reflected. Light whose focus is located on the surface of the object may be incident to the detector 1300 through the mirror 1700, the optical system 1500, and the beam splitter 1600. The detector 1300 may acquire surface information of the object by using incident light.

(3) Acquire color information of scanner

Referring to FIG. 29, the light source 1200 may be turned off and the first auxiliary light source 1280 may be turned on in the color information acquisition operation of the scanner 1000 according to the fifth embodiment. In this case, the optical system 1500 may operate in a first state. Here, detailed description of the same operation as that in FIG. 28 is omitted.

The first auxiliary light source 1280 may be turned on to output white light. The light output from the first auxiliary light source 1280 is incident on the auxiliary parallel lens 1950, converted into surface light, and transmitted to the beam splitter 1600 along the first vertical axis y1. The light incident on the beam splitter 1600 may be transferred to the optical system 1500 by changing the path of the light.

Light incident on the object is reflected by the object, and is incident to the detector 1300 through the mirror 1700, the optical system 1500, and the beam splitter 1600. The first controller 1400 may acquire color information through light incident on the detector 1300.

The scanner according to the fifth embodiment may obtain accurate surface information and color information through on / off operation through a separate light source without using a pinhole array capable of changing a state. In addition, by using the fixed pinhole array without configuring the pinhole array as the liquid crystal panel, there is an effect of preventing the light efficiency degradation that may occur while penetrating the liquid crystal panel.

(4) Acquire wide-angle preview of scanner

Referring to FIG. 30, in the wide-angle preview acquisition operation of the scanner 1000 according to the fifth embodiment, the light source 1200 may be turned off and the first auxiliary light source 1280 may be turned on. In this case, the optical system 1500 may operate in a third state. Here, detailed description of the same operation as that in FIG. 28 is omitted.

The first auxiliary light source 1280 may be turned on to output white light. The light output from the first auxiliary light source 1280 is incident to the auxiliary parallel lens 1950 and converted into surface light, and is transmitted to the beam splitter 1600 along the first vertical axis y1. The light incident on the beam splitter 1600 may be transferred to the optical system 1500 by changing the path of the light.

Light output from the optical system 1500 travels in the direction of the mirror 1700 along the horizontal axis x. The light reaching the mirror 1700 is reflected and transmitted to the object along the second vertical axis y2.

Light reflected by the object is transmitted to and reflected by the mirror 1700 and is transmitted to the optical system 1500 along the horizontal axis x.

The light reaching the beam splitter 1600 is reflected and transmitted along the first vertical axis y1 toward the detector 1300, and the detector 1300 converts the incident light into an electrical signal to convert the light into an electrical signal. Wide-angle preview information can be obtained. In the light incident from the mirror 1700 into the optical system 1500, a wider area of light is incident on the detector 1300 to generate a wider preview image than the preview image of FIG. 29. can do. The first control unit 1400 may provide a wide-angle preview image to the user, thereby improving user convenience.

7. Sixth embodiment-equipped with a second auxiliary light source

(1) scanner structure

31 and 32 illustrate a scanner according to a sixth embodiment.

The scanner according to the sixth embodiment is the same as the fifth embodiment except that the position of a separate light source is changed compared to the fifth embodiment. Therefore, in describing the sixth embodiment, components common to those of the fifth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, the scanner of the sixth embodiment may further include a dental caries detection function as well as surface information, color information, and wide-angle preview information. In the description of the scanner of the sixth embodiment, the acquisition of the wide-angle preview information is omitted, and the description will focus on the dental caries detection function.

31 and 32, the scanner 1000 according to the sixth embodiment may further include a second auxiliary light source 1290.

The second auxiliary light source 1290 may be located in an area adjacent to the mirror 1700 and / or the object. The second auxiliary light source 1290 may be located at the tip of the scanner.

The second auxiliary light source 1290 may be positioned at a position opposite to the mirror 1700 to irradiate light toward the mirror 1700. Light output from the second auxiliary light source 1290 may be reflected by the mirror 1700 and incident on the object.

In the drawing, although the second auxiliary light source 1290 is located at a position opposite to the mirror 1700, the light may be directly irradiated to the object without reflecting the light to the mirror 1700.

Alternatively, the second auxiliary light source 1290 may be located in the rear region of the mirror 1700. That is, the mirror 1700 may be located between the second auxiliary light source 1290 and the object. In this case, the mirror 1700 may be a transflective mirror. That is, the mirror 1700 may be configured to reflect light from the light source 1200 and transmit light from the second auxiliary light source 1290.

The light source 1200 and the second auxiliary light source 1290 may be complementarily flickered. The light source 1200 and the second auxiliary light source 1290 may blink in a time division manner. For example, when the light source 1200 is turned on, the second auxiliary light source 1290 may be turned off, and when the light source 1200 is turned off, the second auxiliary light source 1290 may be turned on. have.

(2) Acquire surface information of scanner

Referring to FIG. 31, in the surface information acquisition operation of the scanner 1000 according to the sixth embodiment, the light source 1200 may be turned on and the second auxiliary light source 1290 may be turned off. In this case, the optical system 1500 may operate in a second state.

Light output from the light source 1200 is transmitted to the light path limiting unit 1905. The light path limiting unit 1905 may convert the light received from the light source 1200 into a point light form and output the point light. Light output from the light path limiting unit 1905 passes through the beam splitter 1600 and is transmitted to the optical system 1500, and passes through the first light path converting unit 1201 to the beam splitter 1600. Can be delivered.

(3) Acquisition of dental caries information of scanner

Referring to FIG. 32, the light source 1200 may be turned off and the second auxiliary light source 1290 may be turned on during the dental caries information acquisition operation of the scanner 1000 according to the sixth embodiment. In this case, the optical system 1500 may operate in a second state.

The second auxiliary light source 1290 may output white light or light of a specific wavelength region. The second auxiliary light source 1290 may output light of a blue wavelength region. The second auxiliary light source 1290 may output light in a wavelength region used for quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF). The second auxiliary light source 1290 may output light for early detection of dental caries. The second auxiliary light source 1290 may output light having a wavelength of 405 nm. The light of the specific wavelength region may be defined as QLF light.

When the second auxiliary light source 1290 outputs white light, color information and preview information may be obtained by operating the optical system 1500 in a first state. In addition, wide-angle preview information may be obtained by operating the optical system 1500 in a third state. Since the scanner 1000 acquires the color information, the preview information or the wide-angle preview information is the same as in the above-described fifth embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, in the sixth embodiment, the second auxiliary light source 1290 is positioned in an area adjacent to the object, so that the light can be irradiated to the object even though the beam splitter 1600 and the optical system 1500 do not pass. There is an effect that the light efficiency can be improved by reducing the light that can be lost in the incident process.

In the dental caries acquisition mode, the second auxiliary light source 1290 may output QLF light. In this case, the optical system 1500 may operate in a first state.

Light output from the second auxiliary light source 1920 may be reflected by the mirror 1700 and incident on the object. When the object is a tooth, the tooth may change the wavelength of the light and output the changed light. The degree to which the wavelengths of the normal region and the abnormal region of the tooth are changed may be different. For example, in the normal region of the tooth, the blue wavelength may be absorbed and green light may be output. In the abnormal region of the tooth, the intensity of the light of the green wavelength may be smaller than the normal region.

Light output from the object may be transmitted to the detector 1300 through the mirror 1700, the optical system 1500, and the beam splitter 1600. The detector 1300 may detect dental caries early by analyzing a wavelength region of incident light. For example, dental caries may be detected early by detecting information of green wavelength of light incident on the detector 1300. The first control unit 1400 may accurately determine an area in which dental caries exists by using dental caries data and surface information and color information of the object.

Although not shown, an optical filter may be further provided between the beam splitter 1600 and the detector 1300. The optical filter may be a yellow filter. The optical filter may be a filter for transmitting a long wavelength, the optical filter may be a filter for transmitting light of 520nm or more. When the optical filter is additionally mounted, the optical filter can more accurately detect the light output from the object, so that the scanner 1000 can more accurately detect dental caries.

Although the above description has been made on the detection of dental caries in the sixth embodiment, the dental caries detection may be implemented by changing the wavelength of the light source in the color information and preview information acquisition modes of the first to fifth embodiments. That is, in the first to fifth embodiments, early detection of dental caries is possible by changing wavelengths of the light source and the light source output from the first auxiliary light source.

Detailed descriptions of the scanners according to the first to sixth embodiments may be applied to the oral cavity scanner. However, the present invention is not limited to the oral cavity scanner, and may be applied to other scanners for generating shape information and color information of the object.

In the above description of the configuration and features of the present invention based on the embodiment according to the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various changes or modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such changes or modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

A detector configured to receive light reflected from the object and generate a signal;

An optical system whose state is changed between a plurality of states including at least a first state and a second state by an electrical signal; And

A control unit for controlling the detector and the optical system,

The control unit,

Controlling the optical system and the detector to generate shape information of the object when the optical system is in the first state,

And control the optical system and detector to generate color information of the object when the optical system is in the second state.
The method of claim 1,

And the controller controls the optical system and the detector to generate preview information of the object when the optical system is in the second state.
The method of claim 1,

The plurality of states further comprises a third state,

And the controller controls the optical system and the detector to generate wide-angle preview information when the optical system is in the third state.
The method of claim 1,

The surface shape of the optical system is kept constant regardless of whether the electrical signal is applied.
The method of claim 1,

The optical system is a liquid crystal lens.
The method of claim 1,

And the control unit applies an electrical signal to have the same optical characteristics as the convex lens when the optical system is in the first state.
The method of claim 1,

The control unit is the same optical as the convex lens when the optical system is in the first state

A scanner that applies an electrical signal to act as a Fresnel lens with characteristic characteristics.
The method of claim 1,

Further comprising a light source for irradiating light to the object through the optical system,

The light source is a scanner for outputting light in the form of a mixture of light of a plurality of wavelength ranges.
The method of claim 8,

The light source is a scanner for outputting white light.
The method of claim 8,

The optical system converts a path of light from the light source according to a plurality of states.
The method of claim 10,

And the optical system converts and outputs the light from the light source to have different focal lengths for each wavelength region when the optical system is in the first state.
The method of claim 10,

And the optical system outputs light from the light source without changing characteristics when in the second state.
The method of claim 10,

And the optical system diffuses and outputs the light from the light source when in the third state.
The method of claim 11,

And the detector receives light having a focus on a surface of the object when the optical system is in a first state.
The method of claim 1,

The amount of light received by the detector when the optical system is in the first state is less than the amount of light received by the detector when the optical system is in the second state.
The method of claim 1,

And the light receiving area of the detector when the optical system is in the first state is smaller than the light receiving area of the detector when the optical system is in the second state.
The method of claim 1,

And the optical system is controlled such that the first state and the second state are alternately changed.
The method of claim 3,

And the optical system is controlled such that the first state, the second state, and the third state are alternately changed.
A light source for outputting first light including at least a first wavelength and a second wavelength; And

An optical system whose state is changed by an electrical signal,

The optical system induces chromatic aberration of the first light in a first state and outputs a second light having a first depth of focus and a third light having a second depth of focus,

And the optical system induces chromatic aberration of the first light in a second state to output a fourth light having a third depth of focus and a fifth light having a fourth depth of focus.
The method of claim 19,

The third and fourth focal depths are the same scanner.
The method of claim 19,

And the fourth light and the fifth light have a form of emitted light.
The method of claim 19,

The second light is caused by the first wavelength, and the third light is caused by the second wavelength.
The method of claim 19,

The light source includes a red light source, a blue light source and a green light source,

The light source is a scanner for outputting white light.
A scanner for scanning the three-dimensional shape of an object,

Light source;

An optical system capable of changing a state according to an electrical signal and changing an optical characteristic according to the state change; And

And a light sensor in which unit color pixels including at least R pixels, G pixels, and B pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional array form of N × M.

When the scanner operates in the first mode, only an electrical signal according to the light reflected from the target object is detected in only some of the N x M unit color pixels included in the two-dimensional array of the optical sensor.

When the scanner operates in the second mode, an electrical signal is detected according to the light reflected from the object in all N x M unit color pixels included in the two-dimensional array of the optical sensor.

When operating in the first mode, the two-dimensional coordinate value on the pixel array of the first unit color pixel where the electrical signal is detected and the color value detected by the first unit color pixel are three-dimensional of the target object. Used to detect shape,

When operating in the second mode, the two-dimensional coordinate value on the pixel array of the second unit color pixel from which the electrical signal is detected and the color value detected by the second unit color pixel are two-dimensional with respect to the object. Scanner for scanning three-dimensional features of objects used to create images.